BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THERE is no doubt that St. Kitts is filled with many talented individuals and the island has room for growth in the entertainment industry.
However, when it seems as though our entertainment industry is booming and we may possibly be making strides, it appears as though we then take two steps backwards as many aspects of our entertainment need to be addressed, improved and implemented.
Many persons have commented that since tourism became our main product, our entertainment industry should be of importance as it is one of the many great avenues that could help boost the tourism industry.
There are several areas that SKNVibes recognises our entertainment industry lacks, one specifically is the fact that there is no upscale club that opens regularly.
An upscale club
We are not speaking about the now and then dances, but a regular club night with great ambience. The former Club Tigers of the St. Kitts Marriott Hotel was one of the best, simply because it was upscale, provided a variety of music and was the ‘big lime’ every Friday and Saturday night.
The only turn-off about the club was the 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. closure, but everything was great about it; the large space for partying, the variety of drinks though the pricing was high, and the type of people who partied there…a mature audience.
“It was a club at a hotel, so, of course they had to turn the music off at a certain time, but Tigers use to be the swing!” said Kelly Matthew who added that Tigers was her favorite club. “We need another club of that calibre which has a dress code, age limit and also a great location that will allow a mature crowd to party til morning.”
Many also agreed that some sort of upscale environment where persons could enjoy themselves with a strict dress code and age limit is definitely needed.
“It's impossible to feel like you're at an upscale or exclusive event with high schoolers in the mix,” commented Juella Gumbs, who feels that the entertainment industry should also be diversified.
“It needs to be diversified because as far as I can tell it's only about partying. Entertainment comes in many more forms than going to the same old parties all the time,” she said. Omar Hodge agrees with Gumbs about an upscale club.
“In terms of clubs, in my view, the closest thing to clubs SK has is Cane Club; we more have dancehalls to me. There should be a distinction between both, the dancehalls where anything goes, but the clubs more upscale have strict dress codes and a certain feel to it,” Hodge said. Daryl Charles said he identifies with the concerns about the age limit at clubs.
“I’m not 30-something or anything but I hate to go to a party and I see like a flock of high schoolers just acting dumb…and definitely a dress code. I love girls, but come on man what do y’all be wearing lately? Sometimes I have to go and ask if I’m at the right place,” he said.
Another issue with the club scene is the selection of music that DJs play at clubs and dances.
“The DJs need to diversify their selections, I always say the DJs are the ones that make the people like the music,” said Hodge.
“So therefore if they constantly play diversified selections the crowd would naturally adopt to it. I don’t really club a lot in SK but from parties I’ve been to it’s always almost all the same songs the same order every time. Some creativity in the way they play the music would also help, another factor is the fact that we have a small population, it sorta hinders a bit because you trying to appeal to basically the same persons over and over.”
Sylvester Meade said that the DJ is the one in charge at a dance. “A DJ is the man in charge if he drop a slow jam, he need to have his people so locked they slide right in,” he said. He however opined that a person enjoying himself or herself when they go out depends on the individual.
“There is nothing wrong with our entertainment, we created that, we are the problem. You can implement all the rules, don’t matter, some people never satisfied,” he said. “I’ve seen many people stuck to walls at a club because they not hearing their favorite tunes all the time. I’ve been to parties and don’t even remember what was playing. We have forgotten how to enjoy, how to socialise, how to smile, how to how to relax.”
In terms of other areas that can be implemented, Clint Richards recommends that a bowling alley, skating rink and an avenue for persons to play video games should also be made available.
Charles said that comedy shows are great as well.
“Entertainment isn't just about party life...what about things like comedy shows. I wasn't there for Pricey's show, but I heard people say it was good. A gentleman's club would be nice and more events like the Island Xpressions poetry and maybe better organised fashion shows are needed,” he said.
A gentleman’s club or strip joint has always been one of the highly requested suggestions to help boost the tourism economy in St. Kitts.
“I've been hearing this strip club talk lately, but if someone does that I think it should be a gentleman's club done the right way. Not a house of prostitution,” said Gumbs.
Music/Artistes
Every day a new artiste is born within the Federation. We also have bands that are really top quality that take their time to perfect their sound and skills. But after releasing an album every carnival that comes into rave reviews, what is next for these bands?
Some of them hardly receive overseas gigs and opportunities and the ones that do, do so because they have developed a relationship with the organisers, not ignoring the fact that they also earn the opportunity on their own merit.
But usually those gigs are monotonous and are done in the same countries each year, and, of course, it is great that the bands are at least doing something, but where is the growth in that?
In terms of the type of music our bands play, it is Soca or at times referred to as ‘wilders’ which is different from the type of music bands from other countries perform, specifically the home of Soca music…Trinidad and Tobago.
Every year during the Trinidad Carnival there is a Soca competition that invites artistes from other countries to compete.
St. Kitts and Nevis is yet to have an artiste good enough to compete in such an event. And if you think we have such an artiste, who would that be? Bearing in mind that stage performance and crowd participation are also key in such a competition. Hence, that performer must be able to capture the thousands that attend the competition.
If there is such an artiste, those performance skills need to be shown whilst they perform at gigs. And if they are shown then, that person needs to be featured on regional shows more often.
They should try to emulate Machel Montano who has mastered stage performance over the years. Yardtune producer DJ Rinch says that the country is filled with talent but the local artistes need more support. EK Flanders of Sugar City Rock said that the country is filled with talent.
“The talent is there without a doubt, it just needs the support of the entire community…think of it as an investment,” he said.
“Look at what Reggae has done for Jamaica and Soca for Trinidad. It needs to be part of our children's development; if a child does not have the academic aspirations but possess a knack for music, we as a nation should nurture and mold that.”
Wallis Wilkin, who has been involved in managing groups and promoting events for a number of years, made a few suggestions.
“Entertainers are ambassadors of our country. In Dominica, Antigua and Barbados the top musicians there are given every support possible to ensure their development.
In some cases they are even officially appointed music ambassadors with their ‘red’ passport, which entitles them to travel anywhere in the world. I think at various times bands like Burning Flames, WCK and Krosfyah have all benefitted from this sort of arrangement,” he said.
The St. Kitts Music Festival is one of the major events in the Federation which features local, regional and international acts for the three-night annual festival.
Wilkin said that the festival should be more about helping to develop local music and artistes instead of focusing on contracting overseas artistes, which may cost millions.
“Our country would benefit more if we invested US$50 000 in five local bands or artistes to perform than one international act who comes, gets paid and leaves. US$10 000 for a local band will mean much for the development of not only that band but for the entire industry. Our bands and artistes are not reaching the pinnacle of regional and international success because we still treat them as if they were bottom tier,” he said.
He continued by saying that it would help the development of the country more when US$10 000 is invested into a local artiste like Infamus instead of paying a regional artiste like Busy Signal that amount to perform.
Entertainment Awards
Wilkin also said that it is time for the Federation to have an entertainment awards ceremony. “Just like tourism has an annual award/banquet, and there is the sports awards all supported by government, there is need for an SKN entertainment gala award event,” he said.
This is a great suggestion, because with so many talented individuals in the Federation, it is surprising that an awards ceremony has not been implemented as yet.
This should be our mini Grammy Awards without the sole concentration on music but also awards for Radio Personality of the Year, DJ of the Year, Party of the Year, Model of The Year, Dance group of the Year etc., in conjunction with Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artiste awards that have already been stipulated by the international awards show.
The awards show will also encourage the Entertainers to continue what they are doing, as their work will be recognised and their efforts commended.
A company like LIME or Digicel should be a major sponsor for the event, where the public can also get involved in the voting process by texting for whom they think should win the awards.
Wherever you party, it is very important to ensure that you are doing so in a safe and secured environment. Do not attend the dancehalls if you’re looking for an upscale lime and vice versa.
Hanging out with friends also helps create a great lime. However, Meade said it best in order to move on to the next level in entertainment. It begins with a state of mind.
“The next level is a state of mind that can only be achieved by fashion forward, open-minded, free-spirited individuals. There are no rules, dress code, or specific music, just the right to express ourselves as Caribbean people,” he said.
